Cheshire's letter, dated Wednesday, urges Tillis not to acquiesce to a request by House Minority Leader Joe Hackney for a legislative investigation into LaRoque's dealings.

Hackney's letter to Tillis, dated Wednesday, refers to "media reports" that "appear to point to a pattern of violating several guidelines for nonprofits as well as the rules for the U.S. Department of Agriculture loan program that provides the capital for Rep. LaRoque’s business."

"I am asking that you appoint a bipartisan commission to independently review the matter and make recommendations about the best course of action in this case. The leadership of this commission should also be bipartisan -- as is the leadership of our Ethics Committee -- to assure the public that political gamesmanship is not a factor in this review," Hackney wrote.

Tillis replied to Hackney that "The appropriate body for review of these matters is the bipartisan Legislative Ethics Committee." The Speaker said he would refer Hackney's letter to that committee, requesting that Hackney "provide the LEC with more specificity regarding the allegation, including without limitation any matters of which you have personal or actual knowledge."

"Doubtless, if more specific or actual knowledge exists," Tillis added, "it will prove critical to the LEC's work."

Divergent storylines

The controversy over LaRoque's loans dates back to the summer, when the left-leaning advocacy group NC Policy Watch published a report on his financial dealings. According to that investigation, LaRoque paid himself six-figure salaries for his work managing a non-profit that administered USDA loan funds. The report also claimed he stacked the boards of those non-profits with friends and family members, made sweetheart loans to friends and political allies (including two other GOP lawmakers), and used the funds to loan one his for-profit businesses $200,000 at zero interest without reporting that to the IRS.

"What I'm trying to do is get my facts straight, beginning with confirming your information, talking with the federal agencies that are involved, and we'll continue that process," he told NCPW's Sarah Ovaska.

"If you're talking about legislative ethics, it's not clear to me that's it's even within the purview," he went on. "That's a question I've asked everybody to look at. You know, I'm a partner for PriceWaterhouseCooper, so I'm familiar with audit compliance issues. So we're just going through this process as we would with anybody."

Tillis said he needed to independently confirm the facts in Ovaska's report. Ovaska asked for a timeframe. "I know it took you a month and half, two months. I hope to do it in far less than that," Tillis said.

Almost three months to the day later, Tillis spokesman Jordan Shaw couldn't say any conclusions had been arrived at.

"[Tillis] said that he was gathering information and would handle the matter appropriately. Our office has gathered information (which, for the most part, has been press reports or blog reports from Policy Watch)," Shaw said in an email today.

Tillis' Chief of Staff Charles Thomas told the Associated Press Wednesday the Speaker wants more details about the allegations against LaRoque.

Cheshire weighs in

In his letter today, LaRoque's attorney Joe Cheshire urges the Speaker not to appoint a special commission to look into the issue, saying it "could certainly be thought of as partisan political bait."

"If we as a society begin to appoint 'independent commissions' to investigate 'media' accounts of politicians, there will be no end to commission hearings," Cheshire says in the letter.

"Such a hearing would set a precedent for further politicizing the government ethics process, would waste taxpayer money that should go to more important state endeavors, and will run rough shod over the presumption of innocence."

"We can have no comfort that such a political investigation will not create a destructive media circus with no checks on the truth," Cheshire concluded.

It's fair to note that Cheshire knows something about media circuses, having defended both the Duke Lacrosse players and former Gov. Mike Easley.

Shaw confirmed tonight that "The Speaker’s office has referred Rep. Hackney’s letter to the Legislative Ethics Committee, which is the existing body to review such matters."

LaRoque has not responded to repeated requests for comment.

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

greg69inncNov 22, 2011

Barak Obama knows what it takes and he is a man of action

greg69inncNov 22, 2011

Looney Bin??? I am gainfully employed and working a part time job and a full time college student and single parent and you insult me like that??? Ummm...withholding unemployed families unemployment benefits was atrocious. To manipulate the citizens that a government offical represents is down right unethical, and I was clearly saying that he doesn't deserve the privelige to represent the people of North Carolina with his past attitudes and actions.

Unfortunately with a 10 percent unemployment rate many people are without work and are going to continue to be so dont judge others during the worst economic downturn of this century

marktrollNov 22, 2011

greg after 2-3 years of not having a job, how much longer until its just a welfare recipient? you and claudia sound like you belong in a looney bin.

greg69inncNov 20, 2011

Mr. Laroque I hope you are picking up trash on the highway that I travel to work now as I was one of the many unemployed that you continually degraded, ridiculed, and knowingly held our benefits knowing that our families already suffering had to suffer more. I will be sure and give the one finger salute to an individual that shouldnt be allowed to be considered a North Carolinian much less serve us.

rodgersclaudiaNov 19, 2011

What a hoot! Chesire makes a good part of his income from media investigations. LaRoque's stunts are dragging the GOP into a shameful mess. But Tillis had plenty of time to do their own investigating and yet failed to do much it seems.

"I know it took you a month and half, two months. I hope to do it in far less than that," Tillis said (to journalist Sarah Ovaska).

Almost three months to the day later, Tillis spokesman Jordan Shaw couldn't say any conclusions had been arrived at.

"[Tillis] said that he was gathering information and would handle the matter appropriately. Our office has gathered information (which, for the most part, has been press reports or blog reports from Policy Watch)," Shaw said in an email today."

Now Dems wear the white hat.

atticushNov 18, 2011

Wow, it didn't take long for the apologists for Republicon cronyism to show up. From the way y'all are squalling there must be something serious going on here.

marktrollNov 18, 2011

I know right? Jim Black never did anything this bad.

ljohnson247Nov 18, 2011

Lets not think that things as this happen to just one Party, if one would would research the DEMS, we are asured you would find much more than this as they were in control for what, 140 years in NC.